Looking for a high school coaches HELP!

[Lambo]

I am a new golf coach in the Illinois area and was wondering if anyone has an idea of how or what to look for specifically during golf tryouts. I have around 30 kids trying out and I need to narrow that down significantly! I wondered if there was anything i could do, for instance, like having them perform certain shots or things of that nature to determine my "team." Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

[Slingblade61]

Closest to the pin competition.

Seriously, I have no first hand knowledge but a few things I'd look for if I were you......

Driving accuaracy. You want to send the kids who can't get off the tee or spray it all overr the place, to the showers. Long and straight or, in a pinch, straight will do.

Consistant short game.....which kids are good with a wedge?

Putting, any 3 putters need not apply.

[VtDivot]

Get a few really big peices of plywood, paint them red, stand them up in the fairway like a doorway, and then have the kids hit shots between through the opening to the green.

[Loop]

Personally, I think the most important things to look for are the characters and personalities, their will to win, be competitive, to work hard, and how they relate to others with respect.
Then you can see them hitting balls in the driving range, making chips amd see how they perform.
For instance, if I see a kid driving balls for 15 minutes, then take 45 minutes to work on his short game, no matter how bad he is, I'd probably put him on the team.
Just my 2 cents though...

[Rockford35]

How kids conduct themselves on the course can really lead you to the best golfers. Kids that know the rules, play within their own strengths and weaknesses are often the best people to have on the team.

I played highschool golf and we had a few jackasses on our team. Our #1 had a great short game and could drive the ball a mile. He had won plenty of amateur ranked events and probably could have played mini tour golf. But he was a jackass. Just an arrogant jerk.

He now loads luggage at the airport.

Personality is key to success in this game, especially at a young age and how you use it on the course. I grew up being taught that your conduct on the course speaks volumes at what kind of person that you are and how you love the game.

R35

[egriffith45]

on my high school team the coach would select those who made varsity based on the lowest average scores and performance during tryouts. another good way i think of selecting the team is to have the players play heads up matches based on there skill level for spots on the team and upcoming matches. seems to work best for finding those who play well in general and well in match situations.

[Bravo]

Lambo:

I would recommend the following:

1) Tell the kids they need to commit one weekend to trying out for the team...and they need to bring about $75 to the tryouts. Have them give you the money which you will use to pay for greens fees.

2) Find an inexpensive course and talk to the owner/manager about arranging several tee times.

2) If you had 32 kids, you could start with 16 head-to-head matches on Saturday. I would forget carts and make them carry their bags. I'd have them play Stroke format not Match play. If a kid won a match 4 and 3 but had a score six strokes higher, you would need to know this...they will likely being playing team stroke play when in actual competition, once you have determined your team.

If you started on Saturday morning, by noon you would be down to 16 kids who would play 8 afternoon matches.

Sunday morning you are down to 8 kids in four matches and Sunday afternoon four kids in two matches.

At that point, it would be pretty obvious who your best players were. Your biggest issue would likely be finding a course that would accommodate your first round matches.

I sincerely do not think there are any drills or skills tests that will tell you as much as what they can do on the field of play under competitive stress...

[Youngun5]

its amazing, we had 15 guys go out this year, 12 last year, 10 the year before. no cuts. kinda eliminates the competitive spirit i think.

we do scoring averages, straight up, the top 5 or 6 are varsity, everyone else is in the jv rotation

good luck

[nsherman2006]

Our coach just made the cut. We started with 28 kids and ended up with 14. For the most part, he took the kids with the lowest scores over the tryout period. But for the ones on the edge, he looked at potential and the ability to help out the team in the future. That way, if its between a sophomore and senior with the same scores, he'd probably take the sophomore

[lildudejds]

we simply had a 36 hole tourney.... the lowest 6 scores made travelling team lowest 8 make "the team"

of course if your conduct wasnt good and u didnt know the rules u wouldnt be on the team.